Hydrogels:  A novel way to extend the life of a drug in the system.


Key Take Aways:

* Many "water-based" peptides have extremely short half-lives in the system- often as low as 2-8 minutes, not leaving enough time in system to produce effects.

* Thick oil preparations like Castor Oil slow the release of substances substantially- especially when injected into fat.  A 0.5mL bolus of castor oil + drug will often dissolve over a 24 hour+ time period.

* Most peptides and many other substances will not solubilize in oil.

* I created a kit to solubilize up to 1mg/ml of peptides etc. in oil based preparation.  Effective, but not comprehensive as many drugs need a much greater concentration to be effective.  Plus, the oil-based kit is honestly "tricky" to get just right.

* From reading/researching I learned that a "hydrogel" preparation can be made in a water base using soluble fibers such as xanthan and methyl cellulose.  These preparations are thick like castor oil, but allow water preferring substances to fully "solve" even at higher mg/ml concentrations.



My Personal Experience:

    This is actually effective in the real world, with real peptides.  I have successfully solubilized oxytocin and a few other items in hydrogel.  It is easy to adjust viscosity through heating (water evaporates easily leaving thicker base).   It will go through a thinner needle than the oil-based items in general.  But, is harder to load (draw up) into the needle and benefits from back-loading greatly.  Save yourself some hassle.  As an example- I have attempted both oil and gel in 25 gauge and 27 gauge needles.  The oil is an absolute nightmare to try to push through a 27, but the hydrogel will inject through this fine a needle without issue.  But, even drawing up hydrogel with an 18 gauge is difficult and requires patience.  It's new, it's odd, but it works.  

Tips-  Let it set up over night to fully get into solution.  All the solvent, anti-bacterial etc. is already in it, and it takes a minute for everything to "gel."  Think similar to letting a pie or pudding set up.

Inject well into fat subcutaneously.  While hydrogel is generally pain free and easy to work with- some muscles may get some irritation just due to the thickness- but fat?  not so much.  If you inject too shallow under the skin and aren't in fat, then the effect is greatly diminished- it'll dissolve too fast.  Find some fat, get in there a half inch at least.

As far as I know, Ultimate Formulations is the only place that offers this type of solution.  Here's a link to the actual item- when you buy, specify which you need: oil-based or hydrogel.  Shoot me a message.  It's not a hugely "popular" item in that few select it.  But, that's as it should be.  You should definitely know what you're doing with it before attempting.  And, it is for research and experimental purposes only.  Not for human use.  Leave the guinea pig experiments to me please.  :)


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